Did Jimmy Kimmel Pay Nearly $2 Million for the Nude Bea Arthur Painting?

Friday

May 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Apparently Jimmy Kimmel is a very generous friend.On Friday, comedian Jeffrey Ross tweeted that Kimmel had given him the nude Bea Arthur portrait, which sold on May 15 for $1.9 million to a then-anonymous buyer at Christies' auction in New ...

TV Guide

Apparently Jimmy Kimmel is a very generous friend.

On Friday, comedian Jeffrey Ross tweeted that Kimmel had given him the nude Bea Arthur portrait, which sold on May 15 for $1.9 million to a then-anonymous buyer at Christies' auction in New York City. Arthur, who was known to a generation as Dorothy Zbornak in The Golden Girls and another as Maude Findlay in Maude, passed away in 2009 at age 86. Arthur did not actually sit for the painting, which was done by artist John Currin in 1991.

"Biggest surprise of my life. Thank you @jimmykimmel - the most generous guy in the world!" Ross wrote. "Bea is watching over all of us, but especially you," Kimmel responded.

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Despite the hilarious exchange, it's still uncertain whether Kimmel really paid that much money for the painting. Could it be a duplicate of the original? Or some kind of elaborate prank? Reps for Kimmel did not respond to comment Friday for confirmation that the late night host bought, and gave away, the painting.

Do you think Kimmel bought the painting?

View original Did Jimmy Kimmel Pay Nearly $2 Million for the Nude Bea Arthur Painting? at TVGuide.com

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The Golden GirlsMaudeBea ArthurJimmy KimmelJeff Ross

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